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Brit expats on porn charges in Cambodia released on bail

Published:

9 Feb at 6 PM

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Four of the five Brit expats arrested in Cambodia on pool party porn charges have now been released on bail.

Five British expats living in Siem Reap were recently arrested along with five others when police raided a pool party on alleged porn charges. The story hit the world media, with conflicting versions alleging they were responsible for a video showing a large group of young people indulging in a pornographic sex position game whilst the party was ongoing in a private house.

Today’s media updates report four of the five Brits have been released on bail, with the fifth, claimed to be the organiser, still in jail along with several others. All five Brits deny having made the video, saying it might have been taken at a previous party without their knowledge.

Allegations are being made that Cambodian police demanded £28,000 for the release of the group, as well as offering an alternative involving confessing their crimes. The defendants are facing trial and a sentence of one year in jail for producing and uploading the so-called pornographic video, and had previously chosen to stay in prison in order to get a fast-tracked trail.

The reasons behind the release on bail of four of the accused haven’t yet been given, although their lawyers were urged not to apply for their freedom whilst police are still investigating. The accused cannot leave Cambodia as their passports have been confiscated, and may be short of funds should the trial date drag on, with Cambodian police notorious for their lack of speed during investigations. It seems the arrests formed part of a crackdown on lewd behaviour by young tourists which is considered as disrespectful to the country’s culture.

To add to the confusion, it has emerged an undercover police officer had joined the party and witnessed the games, and the group are now being accused of using a previously taken video of an earlier pub crawl and party to advertise the event. The case for releasing the arrestees was bolstered when Siem Reap’s governor told the media no pornographic video had been seized during the raid. According to several reports, the police had expected to see lewd behaviour as depicted in the video but found some 100 or so partygoers standing around, drinking and chatting